Jeff Schudel's NFL rankings: Browns rising, Giants falling

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer, left, hands the ball off to running back Willis McGahee during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

The Browns are on the rise, not only in the AFC North, but also in Week 4 of our NFL power rankings.
A week ago, the Browns ranked 30th with only Tampa Bay and the pathetic Jacksonville Jaguars ranked lower. The eye-opening victory over the winless Minnesota Vikings ó eye-opening because the Browns definitely have not given up on the season ó earns them the 26th slot this week.
The top spot still belongs to the Denver Broncos with the Seahawks ranked second ready to take over the throne in the unlikely event the Broncos stumble.
Denver and Seattle, both 3-0, prove there is more way than one to win in the NFL. Peyton Manning stands back there in the pocket, directing his Denver receivers like an air-traffic controller, and has 12 touchdown passes after just three games. Russell Wilson wins running the read option. He has thrown 73 passes, 49 fewer than Manning, and leads all NFC quarterbacks with a 109.6 passer rating. Manningís stratospheric passer rating of 134.7 leads the entire NFL.
The Jaguars, doomed to another defeat Sunday when they host the Indianapolis Colts, retain their firm grasp on last place in the power rankings. Some woeful teams, though, arenít far from taking the booby prize.
The Dallas Cowboys lead the NFC East with a 2-1 record. The rest of the division is 1-8, and because of that the 0-3 Giants, 38-0 losers to the Panthers, are stuck in 31st.
No one outside of Pittsburgh expected much from the Steelers this season, but no one expected them to be as bad as they are. The Steelers are 0-3 for a very big reason. They have turned the ball over nine times and have not taken it away once.
For that, the Steelers are 30th in this weekís power rankings.
Browns beat writer Jeff Schudelís Week 4 NFL power rankings:
1. Denver Broncos: Manning and the Broncos stampede every defense that gets in their path.
2. Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks look as unstoppable as they were a year ago.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs defense should be able to keep the frustrated Vikings winless.
4. New Orleans Saints: Quarterback Drew Brees and tight end Jimmy Graham keep the Saints undefeated.
5. Chicago Bears: The Bears defense is playing like the 21st century of the Monsters of the Midway.
6. New England Patriots: Tom Brady and his new set of receivers are starting to get in synch.
7. Cincinnati Bengals: The way the Bengals fought back to beat the Packers shows they donít rattle easily.
8. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins put their perfect record on the line Monday night on the road in New Orleans.
9. Indianapolis Colts: The Colts made a statement by stomping on the 49ers in San Francisco.
10. Baltimore Ravens: The two teams that beat the Browns this season are a combined 5-1.
11. San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers are playing with a Super Bowl hangover in the early part of 2013.
12. Green Bay Packers: The Packers canít lose any more ground to the Chicago Bears in the NFC North.
13. Houston Texans: The Texans are 2-1 despite being outscored, 82-70.
14. Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys are on top of a surprisingly weak NFC East.
15. Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons can score, but they have already allowed 74 points through three games.
16. Detroit Lions: The 2-1 Lions are in trouble because wide receiver Nate Burleson broke his arm trying to save a pizza.
17. Philadelphia Eagles: Chip Kelly doesnít have 50 players to run in and out on defense to keep his starters fresh.
18. Tennessee Titans: Nobody expected much from the Titans, but they are 2-1 and tied for first in the AFC South.
19. Carolina Panthers: The Panthers got their first victory in a big way by crushing the New York Giants, 38-0.
20. San Diego Chargers: The Chargers have scored nine touchdowns, but they have allowed 81 points.
21. New York Jets: Defense has kept the Jets in every game this season.
22. Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals can get back to even Sunday in Tampa.
23. Buffalo Bills: Bills rookie quarterback EJ Manuel is learning on the fly.
24. St. Louis Rams: The Rams have a lot of work to do after getting knocked around by the Cowboys.
25. Oakland Raiders: Terrelle Pryor is starting to improve as an NFL quarterback.
26. CLEVELAND BROWNS: The Browns run defense is proving it can stop the best backs in the league.
27. Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings might be in the quarterback hunt in the 2014 draft. Fans are tired of Christian Ponder.
28. Washington Redskins: Redskins owner Dan Snyder must be growing impatient with Coach Mike Shanahan.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers are in turmoil. Players are unhappy with Coach Greg Schiano.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers cannot hold onto the ball and they cannot take it away. How sad.
31. New York Giants: No team in the league is a bigger disappointment than the Giants this season.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars did not disappoint when they went out to Seattle and were embarrassed, 45-17.